Just when you thought there was no more money to be made in the parking lots

[DznyRktekt]

I understand the frustrations of all the upcharges Disney has been implementing recently, VIP express bus service? Like what goes through a TDO execs head to decide offering a $15 upcharge to put guests on "express" bus service. But adding a drink cart to a parking lot is a huge issue? A parking lot doesn't have a theme, it's gravel and parking trams. That's about it. I think it's nice to offer a drink cart before guests enter the park, because like on Main Street for example, unless you stop at Starbucks or Casey's, it's a while before you actually get to a cart for a quick drink.

The beverage cart would fit well with a gravel parking lot.

 

[PhilharMagician]

Um, When was the last time these kiosks were actually OPEN at park opening and closing 2006 or so I think?, Because if they were open there would be no need for the drink cart.

Last time I was there the kiosks were all open prior to rope drop at the 4 major parks selling coffee, pastries and other small snack items.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I can assure you they are making plenty on $3.25 chips, $2.25 fruit and $3.00 bottled water. Just because someone will pay for it doesn't mean it's a great business decision.

Incorrect. Google "market cannibalization." If someone is going to buy a bottle of water, Disney doesn't care whether they buy it in a parking lot, at the counter of Pecos Bill's, or by the bathrooms behind Space Mountain. Profitability of something like this is driven by incremental sales, not total sales. In other words, the only sales that matter are the people who would not have bought a snack otherwise but decided to do so only because this cart was there. I don't see that being a very big number.

 

[larryz]

What it will all boil down to is gross receipts divided by cost of attendants and product. If the number is positive, it stays.

 

[ford91exploder]

What it will all boil down to is gross receipts divided by cost of attendants and product. If the number is positive, it stays.

It also has to meet the Revenue per square foot metric ....

 

[larryz]

It also has to meet the Revenue per square foot metric ....

True.
However, the parking lot is practically unlimited (lots of zones that aren't used to park cars) and was likely amortized 20 years ago.

 

[wdwmagic]

Another product of the recent management reorganization. Every department has to run like its own business and make money, regardless of impacts to the bigger picture.

 

[Kingtut]

If Disney rolled up a Good Humor truck along side the Polynesian Curb.. would you say it's a good thing?

Maybe that's not a good example.. given an ice cream truck is usually more put together than the golf cart plus CMs in hi-viz vests.

Disney used to do thing better than the crap your local high school kids thought up and threw together. Now it's just supported by 'well its something you want right? done! check.. disney quality achieved!'

Just read this but actually a "Summer Ice Cream" type truck playing the annoying music that rolls through our neighborhood every summer weekend would be a much better fit than the "Broken Down Golf Cart" look they have now. They could call it "Scrooge McDucks - Last Chance Truck". An exercise left for the reader is - Last chance at what?